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Article

Combined Use of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Biochar Produced from Moss (Leucobryum glaucum (Hedw.) Ångstr.) Biomass for Chinese Spinach (Amaranthus dubius L.) Cultivation under Saline Stress

by
Ivan Širić
1,
Sadeq K. Alhag
2,
Laila A. Al-Shuraym
3,
Boro Mioč
1,
Valentino Držaić
1,
Sami Abou Fayssal
4,5,
Vinod Kumar
6,
Jogendra Singh
6,
Piyush Kumar
7,
Rattan Singh
8,
Rakesh Kumar Bachheti
9,10,
Madhumita Goala
11,
Pankaj Kumar
6,12,* and
Ebrahem M. Eid
13,*
1
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
2
Biology Department, College of Science and Arts, King Khalid University, Muhayl Asser 61913, Saudi Arabia
3
Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 12834, Saudi Arabia
4
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Forestry, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria
5
Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Lebanese University, Beirut 1302, Lebanon
6
Agro-Ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to Be University), Haridwar 249404, India
7
Department of Science, Vivek College of Education, Moradabad Road, Bijnor 246701, India
8
Department of Food Technology, Guru Jambeshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar 125001, India
9
Department of Industrial Chemistry, College of Applied Sciences, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 16417, Ethiopia
10
Department of Allied Sciences, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun 248002, India
11
Department of Environment Science, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun 248002, India
12
Research and Development Division, Society for AgroEnvironmental Sustainability, Dehradun 248007, India
13
Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
 
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*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Horticulturae 2023, 9(9), 1056; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9091056
Submission received: 22 August 2023 / Revised: 15 September 2023 / Accepted: 18 September 2023 / Published: 21 September 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responses to Abiotic Stresses in Horticultural Crops)
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Abstract

:
Salinity-induced soil degradation poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity and requires innovative crop-management strategies. In this study, the synergistic effect of biochar and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) obtained from moss (Leucobryum glaucum (Hedw.) Ångstr.) biomass on the growth, yield, biochemical, and enzymatic response of Chinese spinach (Amaranthus dubius L.) grown under salinity stress was investigated. Purposely, A. dubius was grown under different combinations of arable soil, biochar, TiO2 NPs, and saline soils. The produced biochar and TiO2 NPs were characterized using microscopy image analysis, X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), zeta potential, particle size distribution, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that saline stress caused a significant (p < 0.05) decline in growth, yield, and biochemical constituents of A. dubius compared to control treatments. However, the combined application of biochar and TiO2 NPs significantly (p < 0.05) alleviated the saline stress and resulted in optimum fresh weight (30.81 g/plant), dry weight (4.90 g/plant), shoot and root length (28.64 and 12.54 cm), lead number (17.50), leaf area (12.50 cm2/plant), chlorophyll (2.36 mg/g), carotenoids (2.85 mg/g), and relative water content (82.10%). Biochar and TiO2-NP application helped to reduce the levels of stress enzymes such as catalase (2.93 µmol/min/mg P), superoxide dismutase (SOD: 2.47 EU/g P), peroxidase (POD: 40.03 EU/min/g P), and ascorbate peroxidase (3.10 mM/mg P) in saline soil. The findings of this study suggest that the combination of nanotechnology and biochar derived from unconventional biomass can be a viable option to mitigate salinity-related challenges and enhance crop yield.

1. Introduction

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a white, opaque, and naturally occurring inorganic compound; it is composed of barium cation and sulfate anion and has low toxicity and negligible biological effects [1]. This has led to the production of TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), which consist of anatase and rutile crystal forms [2]. These NPs are biocompatible, chemically stable, inexpensive, and reusable features that make them suitable for agricultural use, especially in developing countries [3]. Out of several physical and chemical methods previously employed for TiO2-NP synthesis, chemical synthesis methods were found to have harmful environmental impacts [4]. Thus, the green synthesis method has been adopted as the most eco-friendly, sustainable, and non-expensive way to biosynthesize NPs [5]. Generally, the average TiO2-NP size ranges between 25 and 100 nm [6], and their structure arrangement is crystalline [7]. Many studies investigated plant extracts for potential TiO2-NP biosynthesis. For instance, the use of Aloe vera leaf extract resulted in TiO2 NPs with large surface area and irregular size [8]. TiO2 NPs biosynthesized from Anona squamosa fruit peel extract showed a spherical nature and 21–25 nm size [9]. An irregular shape and 25–110 nm particle size were obtained from the biosynthesis of TiO2 NPs using Catharanthus roseus leaf extract [10]. Vimala et al. [11] biosynthesized silver NPs (AgNPs) from Campylopus flexuosus (Hedw.) bird moss and revealed a 58 nm particle size and –25 mv zeta potential (good stability). Iron (FeNPs) and AgNPs biosynthesized from S. fallax moss were spherical with 120 and 100 nm sizes, respectively [12]. However, there is very scarce information regarding the biosynthesis of TiO2 NPs from moss biomass.
Biochar is a carbon-rich solid product resulting from the thermal conversion of unstable carbon-enriched biomass into a stable form via pyrolysis. Biochar is generally characterized by high pH, porosity, surface area, and the availability of both micro- and macrospores [13]. Agricultural, forest, and food wastes (mainly lignocellulosic biomass sources) constitute the main substrate sources used for biochar production. The latter can be a promising strategy to mitigate the increasing environmental pollution induced by disposed wastes. For instance, a recent study found that the production of biochar from spent mushroom substrate is feasible and yields a qualitative product with very few impurities [14]. Moreover, the type of substrate used directly affects the surface area of produced biochar [15]. It is worth noting that the lower the impurities in produced biochar, the higher its quality is. Moreover, pyrolysis temperature plays a key role in determining biochar physicochemical properties. Increased pyrolysis temperature results in increased pH, carbon content, structural pores, and decreased biochar yield and volatile matter [16,17].
Chinese spinach (Amaranthus dubius L.; Amaranthaceae) is a 30–150 cm annual plant with a branched stem, native to Central and South American regions and imported to India from Africa for around 500 years. The global amaranth market was valued at around USD 9.1 billion in 2021 and is forecasted to reach USD 21.7 billion by 2029 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.51% in the 2022–2029 period [18]. In India, this plant is mainly grown in the mid and high hills of the Himalayan valley; it is estimated that around 40–50 thousand hectares of A. dubius are grown [19]. Although it is one of the most popularly consumed leafy vegetables in India (also known as the food of the poor), accurate information related to its production and market is still scarce [20,21]. Indian cuisine has several uses of amaranth, e.g., “Raab”, which is a broth made from amaranth flour and other basic ingredients, and curries and salads (grain and fresh forms, respectively), among others. The amaranth plant is generally considered a highly tolerant crop to saline abiotic stress [22]. This is attributed to the low number of stomata of the plant, resulting in lower basal stomatal conductance [23]. Such a hypothesis was confirmed by Bellache et al. [24], who mentioned that the growth of both A. alba and A. hybridus species was severely affected at 450 and 600 mM NaCl with unpronounced effects at lower concentrations. However, a recent study [25] mentioned that this plant can be affected by saline stress at even relatively low to moderate concentrations. For instance, NaCl concentrations higher than 25 mM (50 and 100 mM) resulted in decreased growth and yield parameters due to saline accumulation in the shoots and roots. On the other hand, antioxidant activity, total flavonoids, and total phenolics increased at 50 mM NaCl, as mentioned by Hoang et al. [25].
In the last decade, numerous studies confirmed the role of NPs in saline stress mitigation of various leafy crops, e.g., lettuce [26], cauliflower [27], alfalfa [28], and Chinese cabbage [29]. The main observed improvements were increased plant biomass, leaf chlorophyll pigment contents, and systemic acquired resistance plant defense, along with decreased leaf malondialdehyde (MDA) content. CuO and ZnO NPs application to A. hybridus resulted in improved plant germination rate and growth along with increased antioxidant activity within shoots and roots, as reported by Francis et al. [30]. Furthermore, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon uptake by A. tricolor L. was reduced by around 20–55% as a result of SiO2 NPs and ZnO NPs amendment [31]. However, no previous studies investigated the application of TiO2 NPs on A. dubius. On the other hand, only a few studies evaluated the effect of biochar on Amaranthus spp. For instance, the amendment of A. tricolor L. with bamboo biochar resulted in 34.4% higher yields; however, no significant improvements were noticed in terms of plant leaf number and height [32]. The amendment of A. tricolor L. with biochar produced from litchi wastes resulted in increased chlorophyll pigments (chlorophyll ‘a’ and chlorophyll ‘b’) and yield and reduced leaf MDA content as reported by Jiang et al. [33]. However, no studies evaluated the potential of biochar as an amendment for A. dubius. The co-application of TiO2 NPs with biochar for plant response evaluation has been scarcely investigated. To our knowledge, the co-amendment of Sorghum bicolor with TiO2 NPs and biochar was the very first experiment performed. These authors reported increased chlorophyll pigments (Chl ‘a’ and Chl ‘b’) in co-treated plants compared to TiO2 NP treated [34]. Therefore, it was evidenced from the above studies that the physiological effects can be positive and increase crop productivity and tolerance to stressful conditions [28].
Considering the aforementioned, it was hypothesized that the growth and yield characteristics of A. dubius grown in saline soils would be differentially affected by applying L. glaucum biomass-derived biochar and TiO2 NPs, both separately and in combination. In addition, it is hypothesized that these treatments will induce different biochemical and enzymatic responses in the plant. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the separate and combined effects of TiO2 NPs and biochar produced from L. glaucum biomass on growth and yield attributes and biochemical and enzyme response of A. dubius cultivation under saline soils.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Collection of Experimental Materials

For this study, moss (Leucobryum glaucum (Hedw.) Ångstr.) biomass was obtained from natural rocks of the Chilla Forest Range in Rajaji National Park, Haridwar, India (29°57′55.1″ N and 78°12′02.9″ E). The moss attached to the rock was carefully cut using a sharp knife, and the adhering soil was carefully removed. Then, moss biomass was cut into small pieces and placed in zip-locking plastic bags for further transportation to the laboratory. For the synthesis of TiO2 NPs, AR-grade titanium-isopropoxide was procured from Sigma–Aldrich, India, having a purity of >97%. Moreover, A. dubius seeds were obtained from the local market of Jwalapur, Haridwar, India (29°55′20.4″ N and 78°06′19.5″ E).

2.2. Biosynthesis of TiO2 NPs and Biochar Production

The moss biomass was carefully washed in triple distilled water to remove adhering dirt and then oven-dried at 60 °C until a constant weight was obtained. The dried moss biomass was converted into a fine powder using a mechanical grinder. Further, 10 g of dried moss powder was mixed in 50 mL of triple distilled water and heated for 60 min at 80 °C. After cooling down, the solution was filtered with Whatman filter paper number 1. For the synthesis of TiO2 NPs, 50 mL of 5 mM titanium-isopropoxide was added to 50 mL of moss extract (1:1 v/v) and continuously stirred for 8 h at 25 °C. The solution was centrifuged for 10 min at 10,000 rpm, and formed nanoparticles were carefully separated, dried at 100 °C for 12 h, and calcinated at 570 °C using a muffle furnace for 3 h. On the other hand, the moss biochar was prepared using a slow pyrolysis process. For this, biomass was thoroughly washed and dried under sunlight to remove moisture content. The biomass was placed in a crucible disc and pyrolyzed in a muffle furnace (NSW-101, Narang Scientific, New Delhi, India) for 60 min, and the temperature was raised to 600 °C (10 °C/min). Finally, the prepared TiO2 NPs and biochar were characterized and used for A. dubius cultivation experiments.

2.3. Experimental Design for Chinese Spinach Cultivation

The A. dubius cultivation experiments were conducted in the multipurpose laboratory of the Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, India (29°55′10.60″ N and 78°07′07.90″ E) during the winter season (September to October 2021). The average ambient temperature and humidity of the experimental site were 26 °C and 81%, respectively. For this purpose, the arable soil from the nearby agricultural fields was collected and filled in 25 kg capacity pre-sterilized plastic pots. A total of 19.50 kg arable soil and 0.50 kg vermicompost were filled in each pot and mixed thoroughly. This study involved a series of seven different treatments, namely T0 (arable soil only), T1 (arable soil + biochar), T2 (arable soil + TiO2 NPs), T3 (arable soil + biochar + TiO2 NPs), T4 (saline soil only), T5 (saline soil + biochar), T6 (saline soil + TiO2 NPs), and T7 (saline soil + biochar + TiO2 NPs), respectively, as depicted in Figure 1.
To achieve saline conditions in arable soil, a 150 mM NaCl (AR grade) solution was added to T4, T5, T6, and T7 treatments and mixed carefully to ensure uniform distribution of the saline solution. A 20 g dose of moss biochar per kg of soil was added to the designated pots and mixed carefully. In addition, 2.50 mg of TiO2 NPs was added to 1000 mL of distilled water and placed in an ultrasonic water bath for 25 min to achieve uniform dissolution. The prepared solution was hand sprayed (foliar application) on A. dubius plants at an interval of every 10 days. For this, 25 mL of TiO2 NPs solution was sprayed into each pot on days 10, 20, 30, and 40. Thus, a total of 100 mL of solution was sprayed into respective pots during the cultivation period. All treatments had five identical replicates to minimize experimental and analytical bias. Before their sowing, the seeds of A. dubius were soaked in water for 2 h and then gently dried using blotting paper to remove excess water content. Afterward, a total of three seeds were shown in each pot at a depth of 0.5 cm and covered gently with loose soil. The pots were equally watered using a borewell water supply with the help of a hand sprayer and placed under natural sunlight conditions (16/8 h dark/light period). After germination began, the pots were watered after each third day or as per requirements to maintain appropriate soil moisture content. The first harvesting was performed on the 40th day after showing when leaves were fully matured. A total of three harvestings were performed at an interval of the fifth day to represent average plant yield. During the experiments, regular weeding and pest monitoring were performed to minimize variations due to management.

2.4. Growth, Yield, and Biochemical Analyses

The effect of TiO2 NPs and biochar on A. dubius grown under saline stress was studied by analyzing the selected biochemical and enzyme responses. In this regard, the chlorophyll content (mg/g) of A. dubius was determined using 80% acetone extract and the spectrophotometric (Cary 60, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) method at 645 and 663 nm. Similarly, carotenoid contents (mg/g) were measured at 480, 645, and 663 nm while using acetone, chloroform, and petroleum ether as extraction reagents. Relative water content (%) of A. dubius was estimated via floating leaf samples on deionized water in Petri dishes for 24 h to achieve full turgidity, followed by oven drying at 80 °C to achieve constant dry weight [35]. The relative water content (%) of the plant was then calculated based on the difference between its initial hydrated state and the final dry weight, providing valuable information about the plant’s water content relative to its maximum capacity for water absorption. Similarly, catalase (CAT: micromoles per minute per milligram of protein or μmol/min/mg P) activity was estimated using a 0.50 g leaf sample homogenized in a 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH: 7.8) followed by spectrophotometric estimated at 240 nm as previously described by Uma et al. [36]. Similarly, peroxidase (POD: μmol/min/mg P) activities were also determined using a 50 mM phosphate buffer, 20 mM guaiacol, 40 mM H2O2, and 0.10 mL extract followed by estimation at 470 nm. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD: units per milligram of protein or U/mg P) contents in A. dubius leaves were estimated using a modified method of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay at 560 nm. In comparison, ascorbate peroxidase (APX: μmol/min/mg P) activities were recorded at 290 nm while homogenizing the sample in a 0.10 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) [37].

2.5. Analytical and Instrumental Methods

Before its use in NP synthesis and biochar production, the moss biomass was analyzed for selected proximate and ultimate elemental analyses as percent (%). In this, moisture content, dry weight, crude protein, volatile matter, crude lipid, and total ash were determined based on the methodologies adopted by Toor et al. [38]. The ultimate analysis of selected elements (carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen) was also determined using an elemental analyzer (CE 440, Exeter Analytical Inc., Chelmsford, MA, USA). On the other hand, the functional group characteristics of synthesized TiO2 NPs and biochar produced from moss biomass were analyzed using Fourier’s transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy (8400S, Shimadzu, Carlsbad, CA, USA). For this, KBr pellets were used to prepare a thin disc under high pressure and then subjected to FTIR spectroscopy to scan the sample in a range of 400–4000 1/cm. The final FTIR spectra were obtained by subtracting the KBr background and 3% smoothening in order to identify the bonding modes and functional groups present in TiO2 NPs and biochar separately. The particle size distribution of TiO2 NPs was determined using the scattered light intensity method, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM, FEI Tecnai G2 20 S-Twin, Hillsboro, OR, USA) was used to visualize the size and morphology of NPs. The X-ray diffraction patterns of powdered NP were analyzed using an XRD instrument (D8-Advance, Bruker, Billerica, MA, USA). Also, the apparent zeta potential (AZP) of TiO2 NPs was analyzed using a zeta potential analyzer (Delsa™Nano C, Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA). Moreover, biochar obtained from the pyrolysis of moss biomass was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM; Zeiss Gemini SEM, Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). The Biochar sample was carefully coated and subjected to SEM imaging to visualize the surface morphology. Whereas energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX; Octane Eliter Plus, Mahwah, NJ, USA) analysis was simultaneously performed to understand the basic elemental composition of biochar.

2.6. Data Analysis and Software

The data generated in this study were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 365 (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA) and OriginPro 2023b (OriginLab Corp., Northampton, MA, USA) software packages. The significant differences among treatment groups were studied based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA) while comparing the means using Tukey’s post hoc test. The level of significant difference was adjusted to a 95% confidence interval or p < 0.05.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Characteristics of Moss Biomass, Synthesized TiO2 NPs, and Biochar

3.1.1. Properties of Moss Biomass

The chemical composition of L. glaucum used in the present investigation is reported in Table 1. Moss moisture content was found to be 63.3 ± 2.04%; it is well known that most species cannot tolerate moisture levels lower than 35% as this leads to desiccation occurrence [39]. The dry weight of L. glaucum (36.7 ± 0.31%) was relatively higher than the range previously set by Hoekstra et al. [40] and Alpert [39] (10–30%); this can be attributed to the type of moss species studied. Ihl and Barboza [41] found a dry weight of 17.7–31.5% for Alaska moss species, which is close but lower than observed in L. glaucum (36.70 ± 0.31%). This may be related to the species type and ecosystem in which it thrives. A crude protein content of 7.25 ± 0.07% was found in L. glaucum, thus being in the range mentioned by Orlov and Sadovnikova [42,43] (5–10%) for Bryophytes. The volatile matter content of L. glaucum was 38.15 ± 1.78%, which was more than two-fold higher than attributed for other moss species (0.04–14.5%) [44]. A higher volatile matter production by mosses may be attributed to the attraction of flies for spore dispersal [45]. A crude lipid content of 2.41 ± 0.04% was found in L. glaucum; generally, such a component is scantly researched in moss species. Most attention goes to fatty acids that account for around 70% of the total lipid content of moss species [46]. Total ash content (2.97 ± 0.02%) was well below the range detected in Alaska moss species (8.1–19.6%) [41] and higher by 2–20-folds than found (0.1–1.2%) by Zaccone et al. [47]. Carbon (49.28 ± 2.60%) and nitrogen (3.10 ± 0.04%) contents detected in L. glaucum were higher than those reported by Klavina [48] on 16 moss species (40–43% and 0.4–2%, respectively) and in the ranges depicted by Zaccone et al. [47] (45–63% and 0.4–5.8%, respectively). On the other hand, the oxygen content of L. glaucum (28.05 ± 1.52%) was well below the range (48–53%) observed by Klavina [48]. CO2 uptake (amount) directly affects the amount of oxygen produced by mosses [49]. Thus, the chemical composition of L. glaucum investigated in this study exhibited unique characteristics, including a relatively high dry weight, volatile matter content, and carbon and nitrogen levels, which may be influenced by the specific moss species and its ecosystem.

3.1.2. Properties of Synthesized TiO2 NPs

The stability of synthesized NPs can be confirmed by evaluating particle size and apparent zeta potential [50]. TiO2 NPs had a size ranging from 1 to 83 mm. At a 67 a.u. intensity (highest intensity reached), TiO2 NPs were of 20 mm size. It is worth noting that between 60 and 67 a.u. intensity, TiO2 NPs showed a certain size uniformity (18–22 mm) (Figure 2a,c). This indicates a specific relationship between the intensity level and the size of the nanoparticles. However, TiO2 NPs were generally a non-uniform size. Larue et al. [51] mentioned that 4–100 nm NPs have the ability to cross plant cuticles by disrupting the wax layer. Other researchers mentioned that 3.5–20 mm NPs were likely to penetrate plants [52,53]. Zeta potential explains the potential stability of nanoparticles in a solution. The negative apparent zeta potential peak of TiO2 NPs (around −17 mV) explains that particles were of similar charges and tended to strongly repel each other within the extract (Figure 2b). Thus, there would be a lesser tendency for TiO2 NPs to settle down or come together in any solution (positive result). In summary, the stability of the synthesized TiO2 NPs was confirmed through the evaluation of particle size and apparent zeta potential.
The FT-IR analysis was performed to determine the functional groups present in TiO2 NPs synthesized using an extract of moss biomass. Positive wavelength peaks (1/cm) of absorption correspond to negative apparent peaks of IR transmittance [14]. Figure 3a shows sharp peaks at 520, 587, and 680 1/cm, referring to ring torsion of phenyl, strong C-I stretching between halo compounds, and C-H bending vibrations, respectively [54]. The peak observed at 828 1/cm can be attributed to strong C=C bending between mono- and di-substituted (alkane) compounds mostly found in carbohydrates and sugars. The peak detected at 1280 1/cm outlines the presence of collagen or amide III band components of protein. Aliphatic C-H stretching of cell wall polysaccharides can explain the peak observed at 1390 1/cm [48]. Figure 3b shows the patterns of TiO2 NPs synthesized using an extract of moss biomass. XRD peaks observed at 2θ corresponding to 110°, 101°, 200°, 111°, 210°, 211°, 220°, 002°, 310°, and 301° plane indices indicated the crystalline structure of synthesized TiO2 NPs. The determined results corroborate with previous reports of El-Desoky et al. [55] and Usgodaarachchi et al. [56]. Therefore, TiO2 NPs synthesized using moss biomass extract had distinct peaks corresponding to specific chemical bonds and compounds. Additionally, XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of the synthesized TiO2 NPs.

3.1.3. Properties of Produced Biochar

Figure 4 shows (a) FTIR spectra, (b) EDX, and (c) SEM patterns of biochar produced from moss biomass. Four peaks were detected at 1020 (i), 1650 (ii), 1740 (iii), and 2940 (iv) 1/cm (Figure 4a) corresponding to (i) OH and C-O deformation in secondary alcohols and ethers induced by cell wall polysaccharides, (ii) amide I and C=O stretching in conjugated aryl ketones induced by proteins and phenolic compounds, (iii) C=O stretching in unconjugated ketones induced by carbohydrates, and (iv) C-H stretching in methyl and methylene groups mainly induced by lipids with contributions of proteins, carbohydrates, and phenolics, respectively [48]. SEM-EDX has been successfully used previously to evaluate the surface morphology and ultimate elemental composition of produced biochar [14]. Figure 4b depicted low amounts of calcium (Ca; 2.160%), magnesium (Mg; 2.09%), and potassium (K; 0.57%) detected at low (Mg) and moderate (Ca and K) counts. The highest ionization energy peaks were detected at low counts for carbon (C) and oxygen (O) (68.10% and 17.46%, respectively). Although C and O constituted around 85.5% of the total elements found in the produced biochar, around 9.6% of elements were not detected and may be potentially toxic elements. Therefore, more investigations should target the detection of these impurities. It is worth noting that biochar produced in this investigation had a higher C content than the one produced by Širić et al. [14] using spent mushroom substrate (68.10% and 62.06%, respectively), while the O content of the latter was higher than the former (25.10% and 17.46%, respectively). Although air oxidation is essential for the efficient increase of biochar’s porosity [57], increased oxygen content can lead to biochar yield reduction [58]. Figure 2c shows visually good adsorption capacity and relative fineness of biochar produced from moss biomass. Hence, the biochar produced from moss biomass exhibited distinct chemical characteristics determined via FTIR, SEM-EDX, and SEM patterns, with specific functional groups and elemental composition identified.

3.2. Effect of TiO2 NPs and Biochar on Growth and Yield of A. dubius

A. dubius cultivation experiments showed that biochar mixing and foliar application of synthesized TiO2 NPs showed a significant (p < 0.05) effect on growth and yield attributes (Table 2). The results showed that fresh weight in the control treatment (T0) was 31.10 g/plant, which was significantly reduced to 20.52 g/plant under saline stress (T4). However, the combined application of biochar and TiO2 NPs application showed a significant incline in fresh weight of the T7 treatment, i.e., 30.81 (50.14%) as compared to the T4 treatment. However, the highest fresh weight (36.34 g/plant) was recorded in the T3 treatment, which had no saline stress with the combined application of moss biochar and TiO2 NPs. A similar trend was also observed for the dry weight of A. dubius, i.e., maximum in T3 treatment (5.30 g/plant) while minimum in T4 treatment (3.42 g/plant). Likewise, shoot and root lengths (33.04 and 16.09 cm) were also found in the T3 treatment of non-saline soil, followed by the T7 treatment of saline soil (shoot: 28.64 and 12.54 cm). A notable observation was the average number of leaves (22.20) and leaf area (17.07 cm2/plant), which were found to be the highest in the T3 treatment. Biochar mixing helps in increasing soil nutrient composition and water-holding capacity, which later results in higher crop yields. Moreover, biochar particles added to the soil help in the improved propagation of soil microbes, which is beneficial for efficient rhizosphere association development [59]. On the other hand, foliar application of different NPs has been found to alleviate osmotic stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging under saline-stress soils [60]. Additionally, the immobilization of excess salts via biochar prevents their uptake by plant roots, reducing ion toxicity [61]. In particular, TiO2 NPs have been found to offer biological mechanisms through which plants can ameliorate the harmful effects of salinity and promote better crop yield [62]. Both biochar and TiO2 NPs contribute to the improvement of soil structure. Biochar improves soil porosity, water infiltration, and aeration, while TiO2 NPs help reduce soil compaction. The synergistic effect leads to improved root penetration and nutrient uptake, which could have promoted better plant growth.
In a study by Odjegba and Chukwunwike [63], A. hybridus was grown under salinity stress of 0.10 and 0.20 M NaCl. They observed that the salinity stress resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in plant weight. Similarly, Amukali et al. [64] also investigated the effect of 0–150 mM NaCl on germination and seedling growth of A. hybridus. They observed that germination was severely impacted by 150 mM NaCl dose while shoot length (7.97 cm), root length (4.18 cm), fresh weight (2.43 g), dry weight (0.49 g), and leaf area index (1.04) were significantly declined as compared to control treatment with no NaCl amendment. Similar outcomes were reported by Menezes et al. [65] when growing A. cruentus under saline stress (25 mM of NaCl). They reported that the major plant growth attributes and K+/Na+ ratio were significantly decreased in saline stress treatment compared to non-saline stress treatments. Therefore, it was observed that a combination of moss biochar mixing and foliar application of TiO2 NPs showed a stimulatory impact on the growth and yield parameters of A. dubius in this study.

3.3. Effect of TiO2 NPs and Biochar on Biochemical Response of A. dubius

Saline stress has deteriorating impacts on plant physiology and growth, which ultimately affects overall crop yield [66]. However, crop plants respond to saline stress by developing biochemical pathways and physiological adaptations that help them to survive high saline conditions. In this, several defense enzymes play a crucial role in plant survival. In this study, the saline stress caused by NaCl was significantly mitigated by the addition of moss biochar and TiO2 NPs. Table 3 shows the effects of biochar and TiO2-NP application on the biochemical and stress enzyme response of A. dubius. The findings showed that the chlorophyll content of A. dubius was significantly decreased in saline stress treatment (T4: 1.13 mg/g fwt.) compared to the control treatment (T0: 2.49 mg/g fwt.). A similar trend was observed for carotenoids (from 3.36 to 2.02 mg/g) and relative water content (from 87.01 to 72.50%). However, biochar and TiO2-NP treatment resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in chlorophyll, carotenoids, and relative water contents in both non-saline and saline treatments. Overall, the increasing order of these parameters was observed as: T4 < T5 < T6 < T7 < T0 < T1 < T2 < T3. On the other hand, the activities of selected plant enzymes varied significantly across the experimental treatments. SOD contents were highest in the T4 treatment, i.e., 4.05 U/mg P, which was reduced to 2.47 U/mg P in the T7 treatment. However, both CAT and SOD in non-saline stress treatments were found to be the lowest due to no specific stress. Specifically, CAT activities were highest (5.84 µmol/min/mg P) under T4 treatment, which was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after the application of biochar and TiO2 NPs. CAT acts as an important defense enzyme that helps in the breakdown of H2O2 molecules produced by external stresses [67]. Similarly, SOD helps in scavenging harmful superoxide radicles, which are produced by plants under saline stress [68]. Likewise, biochar and TiO2-NP application also helped to reduce the contents of POD and APX in saline-stressed treatments, which indicates that the A. dubius plant could survive efficiently in these treatments. However, individual application of moss biochar and TiO2 NPs did not show any significant (p > 0.05) improvement in biochemical parameters. Thus, in order to overcome the challenges of saline soils and increase A. dubius yields while ensuring environmental sustainability, the combined use of biochar and TiO2 NPs offers a promising solution.
Several studies have confirmed that both biochar and NPs can ameliorate saline stress from agricultural soils [69,70,71]. Out of them, Farhangi-Abriz and Torabian [69] conducted laboratory experiments for French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Derakhshan) cultivation under saline-stressed soils. They found that the contents of chlorophyll were significantly reduced in saline treatments, which again increased in biochar-amended treatments. A report by Naz et al. [70] showed that foliar application of potassium mitigated saline stress conditions in Spinacia oleracea where activities of CAT and SOD enzymes were significantly (p < 0.05) affected. Moreover, González-García et al. [71] showed that foliar application of three types of nanoparticles (Se, Si, and Cu) showed a significant impact on SOD, CAT, POD, and APX activities of Bell pepper (Capsicum spp.) under saline stress. Therefore, as confirmed by the results of the current study, the combined use of biochar and TiO2 NPs presents a promising and effective strategy for enhancing spinach cultivation in saline soils.

4. Conclusions

The findings of the present study indicated that moss biomass could act as a promising resource to produce biochar, while its extract can be used for the biosynthesis of TiO2 NPs. The produced biochar and TiO2 NPs were characterized for their suitability in agricultural use for A. dubius cultivation. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) impact of the combined use of biochar and TiO2 NPs on the growth, yield, biochemical, and stress enzyme response of A. dubius while alleviating saline stress. The combination of these amendments exhibited a synergistic effect, as evidenced by the significantly higher yields compared to the control group. This study suggests that moss could act as a biomass for the development of low-cost fertilizers and nanoparticles, which could benefit sustainable agriculture production. Further studies on optimization and economic feasibility of biochar and TiO2 NP dose with unveiling the underlying mechanisms of plant, biochar, and TiO2 NP interactions are highly recommended. Moreover, evaluating the field efficacy of the proposed method under different agro-climatic conditions and other cultivars is suggested for future works.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, I.Š., S.A.F., P.K. (Pankaj Kumar) and E.M.E.; data curation, B.M., V.D., S.A.F., J.S. and R.S.; formal analysis, J.S., P.K. (Piyush Kumar), R.K.B. and M.G.; funding acquisition, S.K.A., L.A.A.-S. and E.M.E.; investigation, J.S., P.K. (Piyush Kumar), M.G. and P.K. (Pankaj Kumar); methodology, I.Š., S.K.A., L.A.A.-S., V.D., V.K., P.K. (Pankaj Kumar) and E.M.E.; project administration, S.K.A. and L.A.A.-S.; resources, B.M., V.K. and P.K. (Pankaj Kumar); software, S.K.A., L.A.A.-S., B.M., V.D., R.S. and R.K.B.; supervision, E.M.E.; validation, I.Š., B.M., V.K., P.K. (Piyush Kumar), R.S., R.K.B. and M.G.; visualization, I.Š., B.M., V.D., S.A.F., R.S. and R.K.B.; writing—original draft, S.A.F. and P.K. (Pankaj Kumar); writing—review and editing, I.Š., S.K.A., L.A.A.-S., B.M., V.D., V.K., J.S., P.K. (Piyush Kumar), R.S., R.K.B., M.G. and E.M.E. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2023R365), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University through the Large Groups Project under grant number (R.G.P.2/77/44).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2023R365), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through the Large Groups Project under grant number (R.G.P.2/77/44). All individuals included in this section have consented to the acknowledgement.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. The layout of the experimental design used for A. dubius cultivation.
Figure 1. The layout of the experimental design used for A. dubius cultivation.
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Figure 2. (a) Particle size distribution (nm), (b) apparent zeta potential (mV), and (c) TEM image of TiO2 NPs synthesized using extract of moss biomass.
Figure 2. (a) Particle size distribution (nm), (b) apparent zeta potential (mV), and (c) TEM image of TiO2 NPs synthesized using extract of moss biomass.
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Figure 3. (a) FTIR spectra and (b) XRD patterns of TiO2 NPs synthesized using extract of moss biomass.
Figure 3. (a) FTIR spectra and (b) XRD patterns of TiO2 NPs synthesized using extract of moss biomass.
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Figure 4. (a) FTIR spectra and (b,c) SEM-EDX patterns of biochar produced using moss biomass.
Figure 4. (a) FTIR spectra and (b,c) SEM-EDX patterns of biochar produced using moss biomass.
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Table 1. Proximate and ultimate analysis results of moss biomass used in this study.
Table 1. Proximate and ultimate analysis results of moss biomass used in this study.
ParameterValue
Moisture content (%)63.30 ± 2.04
Dry weight (%)36.70 ± 0.31
Crude protein (%)7.25 ± 0.07
Volatile matter (%)38.15 ± 1.78
Crude lipid (%)2.41 ± 0.04
Total ash (%)2.97 ± 0.02
Carbon (%)49.28 ± 2.60
Nitrogen (%)3.10 ± 0.04
Oxygen (%)28.05 ± 1.52
Values are mean followed by the standard deviation of three analyses.
Table 2. Effect of TiO2 NPs and biochar application on growth and yield attributes of A. dubius.
Table 2. Effect of TiO2 NPs and biochar application on growth and yield attributes of A. dubius.
ParametersTreatments
T0T1T2T3T4T5T6T7
Fresh weight (g/plant)31.10 ± 1.40 b34.05 ± 1.07 a32.51 ± 1.16 ab36.34 ± 2.07 a20.52 ± 2.25 d22.29 ± 1.09 cd24.09 ± 0.64 c30.81 ± 0.72 b
Dry weight (g/plant)5.09 ± 0.15 bc5.23 ± 0.09 b5.16 ± 0.08 bc5.30 ± 0.06 a3.42 ± 0.10 e3.45 ± 0.03 de3.53 ± 0.07 d4.90 ± 0.14 c
Shoot length (cm)30.57 ± 0.90 b33.42 ± 1.08 a30.90 ± 0.41 b33.04 ± 0.57 ab17.20 ± 1.01 f19.16 ± 0.35 e24.75 ± 0.81 d28.64 ± 1.30 c
Root length (cm)14.10 ± 0.41 c15.36 ± 0.14 b14.28 ± 0.20 c16.09 ± 0.24 a7.53 ± 0.12 g8.10 ± 0.04 f11.03 ± 0.09 e12.54 ± 0.17 d
Leaf number19.00 ± 0.56 c20.50 ± 0.42 b19.70 ± 0.28 c22.20 ± 0.35 a9.80 ± 0.49 g10.20 ± 0.50 fg15.40 ± 0.18 e17.50 ± 0.44 d
Leaf area (cm2/plant)13.80 ± 0.35 c14.02 ± 0.12 b14.07 ± 0.15 b17.08 ± 0.07 a8.10 ± 0.14 g8.95 ± 0.26 f10.62 ± 0.31 e12.50 ± 0.20 d
Values are mean followed by the standard deviation of five replicates; a–g: the same letters indicate no significant difference among treatment groups at p < 0.05.
Table 3. Effect of TiO2 NPs and biochar application on biochemical and enzyme response of A. dubius.
Table 3. Effect of TiO2 NPs and biochar application on biochemical and enzyme response of A. dubius.
ParametersTreatments
T0T1T2T3T4T5T6T7
Chlorophyll content (mg/g)2.49 ± 0.05 d2.53 ± 0.03 c2.94 ± 0.05 b3.25 ± 0.07 a1.13 ± 0.03 h1.39 ± 0.04 g1.87 ± 0.06 f2.36 ± 0.05 e
Carotenoids (mg/g)3.36 ± 0.07 a3.42 ± 0.05 a3.40 ± 0.06 a3.49 ± 0.03 a2.02 ± 0.03 e2.23 ± 0.04 d2.68 ± 0.03 c2.85 ± 0.02 b
Relative water content (%)87.01 ± 1.14 b88.69 ± 0.64 b89.05 ± 0.21 ab91.40 ± 0.70 a72.50 ± 1.63 e73.14 ± 0.19 e78.32 ± 0.24 d82.10 ± 0.86 c
SOD (U/mg P)2.20 ± 0.03 e2.16 ± 0.02 ef2.12 ± 0.03 f2.04 ± 0.01 g4.05 ± 0.04 a3.50 ± 0.07 b2.98 ± 0.03 c2.47 ± 0.05 d
POD (µmol/min/mg P)38.29 ± 0.58 e37.65 ± 0.19 f37.08 ± 0.35 fg36.59 ± 0.52 g58.72 ± 1.29 a51.84 ± 0.91 b48.01 ± 1.46 c40.03 ± 2.49 d
CAT (µmol/min/mg P)1.90 ± 0.03 e1.82 ± 0.02 f1.84 ± 0.04 ef1.85 ± 0.02 ef5.84 ± 0.07 a5.10 ± 0.04 b4.26 ± 0.10 c2.93 ± 0.12 d
APX (µmol/min/mg P)2.71 ± 0.05 e2.66 ± 0.07 ef2.64 ± 0.03 f2.56 ± 0.04 g7.45 ± 0.10 a6.57 ± 0.09 b4.74 ± 0.04 c3.10 ± 0.05 d
Values are mean followed by the standard deviation of five replicates; a–g: the same letters indicate no significant difference among treatment groups at p < 0.05.
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Širić, I.; Alhag, S.K.; Al-Shuraym, L.A.; Mioč, B.; Držaić, V.; Abou Fayssal, S.; Kumar, V.; Singh, J.; Kumar, P.; Singh, R.; et al. Combined Use of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Biochar Produced from Moss (Leucobryum glaucum (Hedw.) Ångstr.) Biomass for Chinese Spinach (Amaranthus dubius L.) Cultivation under Saline Stress. Horticulturae 2023, 9, 1056. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9091056

AMA Style

Širić I, Alhag SK, Al-Shuraym LA, Mioč B, Držaić V, Abou Fayssal S, Kumar V, Singh J, Kumar P, Singh R, et al. Combined Use of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Biochar Produced from Moss (Leucobryum glaucum (Hedw.) Ångstr.) Biomass for Chinese Spinach (Amaranthus dubius L.) Cultivation under Saline Stress. Horticulturae. 2023; 9(9):1056. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9091056

Chicago/Turabian Style

Širić, Ivan, Sadeq K. Alhag, Laila A. Al-Shuraym, Boro Mioč, Valentino Držaić, Sami Abou Fayssal, Vinod Kumar, Jogendra Singh, Piyush Kumar, Rattan Singh, and et al. 2023. "Combined Use of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Biochar Produced from Moss (Leucobryum glaucum (Hedw.) Ångstr.) Biomass for Chinese Spinach (Amaranthus dubius L.) Cultivation under Saline Stress" Horticulturae 9, no. 9: 1056. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9091056

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